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The India Club has its roots in the India League, a group that tirelessly advocated for Indian independence within Britain
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Its founding members included Krishna Menon, who later became the first Indian High Commissioner to the UK
The iconic India Club in London, which traces its origins back to the Indian independence movement and once hosted prominent nationalists like Krishna Menon, is preparing to shut down next month after a prolonged struggle to stave off closure, according to reports by PTI.
Once a historic gathering spot and dining establishment, the India Club successfully fought off demolition plans a few years ago when it thwarted efforts to raze the building situated in the heart of London’s Strand. However, the Club has now been served notice by its landlords, who intend to make way for a more modernized hotel.
Despite valiant efforts by proprietors Yadgar Marker and his daughter Phiroza, who launched a “Save India Club” campaign to keep the institution alive, the decision to close has been finalized. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the impending closure of the India Club. Our doors will be open to the public for the last time on September 17,” they shared.
The India Club has its roots in the India League, a group that tirelessly advocated for Indian independence within Britain. Its founding members included Krishna Menon, who later became the first Indian High Commissioner to the UK.
In addition to housing one of the UK’s earliest Indian restaurants, the Club swiftly evolved into a focal point for the burgeoning British South Asian community in the wake of India’s independence and Partition.
Phiroza, who has been involved with the Club since her childhood, expressed, “For over 70 years, the India Club has provided a home away from home for first-generation immigrants from the Indian subcontinent, and has also acted as a communal space for Indo-British associations.”
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For many students, journalists, and travelers, it was a home away from home, offering simple and good quality Indian food at affordable prices as well as a friendly atmosphere to meet and maintain friendships
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Tharoor’s post triggered an outpouring of responses from individuals expressing their sadness at the loss of a treasured piece of British Indian history in London
The original intent of Krishna Menon, as explained by Parvathi Raman, Founding Chair of the Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), was to create “a place where young Indian professionals living on a shoestring could afford to eat, discuss politics, and plan their futures.” Raman’s insights were part of the 2019 exhibition ‘A Home Away from Away: The India Club,’ curated by the UK’s conservation charity National Trust.
Since 1946, the Club has been situated on the first floor of the 26-room Strand Continental Hotel, a stone’s throw from the Indian High Commission. Offering beloved Indian dishes like butter chicken and masala dosas, the India Club has held a significant role in serving London’s Asian community for decades.
Marston Properties, the freeholder of the building, had previously submitted an application to Westminster City Council for a “partial demolition” in order to erect a new hotel. However, the Council unanimously rejected the proposal in August 2018, acknowledging the venue’s cultural significance in the heart of London.
Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his sorrow on social media, especially considering his father Chandran Tharoor’s connection with the historic site. He noted, “As the son of one of its founders, I lament the passing of an institution that served so many Indians (and not only Indians) for nearly three-quarters of a century.
For many students, journalists, and travelers, it was a home away from home, offering simple and good quality Indian food at affordable prices as well as a friendly atmosphere to meet and maintain friendships.” Tharoor’s post triggered an outpouring of responses from individuals expressing their sadness at the loss of a treasured piece of British Indian history in London.
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